More and more, issues at the federal level are impacting our members and we need to be able to respond to these increased challenges.

With that in mind, our board of directors set a goal to increase efforts in national affairs and, thanks to increased funding provided by the recent dues increase, that goal is within reach. The following are the four categories of the planned national affairs enhancements:

• Increased congressional activity at the local/farm level

This will involve increased funding for county or multi-county Farm Bureau congressional member/staff tours.

In addition, we currently hold an annual event where we bring Washington D.C. staff to tour Florida agriculture and meet with county Farm Bureaus. We will double these tours so that all regions of the state will be able to participate.

Florida Farm Bureau has helped organize two congressional advisory committees for members of our delegation. We plan to organize eight additional committees.

• Increased financial support to county Farm Bureaus

We will increase the amount Florida Farm Bureau contributes to the Federal Travel Assistance Program. We will provide $200 per year, with a maximum accumulation of $400.

Contributed funds will be available only for Washington D.C. trips that are organized by Florida Farm Bureau. To be eligible, counties must meet membership quota and appoint county legislative chairs and committees.

• Increased congressional/political education for our members

We will create the Florida Farm Bureau Federal Fellowship Program. It will serve as the education/recognition arm of our National Affairs Program. County legislative chairs or their designees will serve in this program.

• Increased Farm Bureau presence in Washington D.C.

We are replacing the annual “Field to the Hill” trip with other, smaller trips and a more visible biennial trip.

Florida Farm Bureau will coordinate a “Biennial Florida Ag D.C. Fly-In.” All of the state’s agriculture and commodity groups will be invited to help sponsor the trip and send participants. The tenative dates for this first fly-in are Feb. 28-March 1, 2006 .

On relatively short notice, Florida Farm Bureau will organize small issue/commodity-specific lobbying trips to the nation’s capital. Ideally we would have three trips of this nature each year with participation by six to eight members. Florida Farm Bureau will select attendees based on political and trip objectives.

County Farm Bureaus will be able to send members on these smaller trips by using funds available through the travel assistance program described above.

These enhancements will significantly improve the opportunities for our members to get involved in the political and legislative processes at the national level. We will be officially rolling out this program in January, so stay tuned for more details.